August 2026 Powerball jackpot now among the biggest in lottery history
August 2026 Powerball jackpot one of the biggest in lottery’s history
The Powerball jackpot for August 5, 2026, is an estimated $786 million, which is among the 10 largest Powerball prizes of all time.
- The Powerball jackpot for the August 5, 2026, drawing is an estimated $786 million.
- If won, the current jackpot would rank as the ninth-largest Powerball prize of all time.
- The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $2.04 billion, won in California on November 7, 2022.
- Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
(This story has been edited to add a video.)
The Powerball jackpot for the drawing tonight, Aug. 5, 2026, sits at $786 million.
While that’s nowhere close to the biggest Powerball jackpot of all time — $2.04 billion won on Nov. 7, 2022 in California — the current prize is among the biggest in that lottery’s history.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots have reached $1 billion 13 times in history, with the most recent win coming on Sept. 6, 2025, with a $1.787 billion Powerball jackpot.
The current Powerball jackpot is no small sum. With a cash value of $341.6 million, it could set up the winner for life. Here’s where it ranks among the top 10 Powerball jackpots.
Current Powerball jackpot now among the top 10 of all time
If won tonight, the current Powerball jackpot of $786 million would rank it No. 9 in the list of the top 10 prizes of all time. These are the biggest jackpots, according to the Powerball website:
- $2.04 billion: Won Nov. 7, 2022 in California
- $1.817 billion: Won Dec. 24, 2025 in Arkansas
- $1.787 billion: Won Sept. 6, 2025 in Missouri and Texas
- $1.765 billion: Won Oct. 11, 2024 in California
- $1.586 billion: Won Jan. 13, 2016 in California, Florida and Tennessee
- $1.326 billion: Won April 6, 2024 in Oregon
- $1.08 billion: Won July 19, 2023 in California
- $842.4 million: Won Jan. 1, 2024 in Michigan
- $786 million: Current jackpot, could continue to climb until won
- $768.4 million: Won March 27, 2019 in Wisconsin
When was the first time a lottery jackpot hit $1 billion?
Powerball made history on Jan. 11, 2016, the first time a lottery jackpot hit $1 billion. When no one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball in the (Saturday) Jan. 9, 2016, drawing for $949 million, the Monday jackpot soared to $1.4 billion. (No one won that drawing either.)
Powerball made history again when three tickets matched all six numbers to win $1.586 billion in the (Wednesday) Jan. 13, 2016, drawing. The jackpot started Nov. 4, 2015, at $40 million. It had rolled over almost 30 times from Nov. 4, 2015, to Jan. 13, 2016, before three tickets from California, Tennessee and Florida claimed the grand prize.
What are the biggest Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots won in Ohio?
The largest jackpot won in Ohio came from Mega Millions.
Brian C. Mulhall claimed a $372 million prize in trust on Dec. 17, 2019. The ticket was purchased at a Giant Eagle in Mentor.
The biggest Powerball win in Ohio came in June 2010, when an anonymous winner claimed the $261.6 million jackpot through a blind trust, according to Jackpot.com. The ticket was purchased at a carryout store in Sunbury. The winner opted for a lump sum, taking home $135 million before taxes.
When is the next Powerball drawing? What time? How to watch
The next Powerball drawing will be held at 10:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. The jackpot is an estimated $786 million, with a cash value of $341.6 million.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and can be seen live on the Powerball website.
How much is a Powerball ticket?
Powerball costs $2 per play. The Power Play, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times, can be added for an additional $1 per play.
How to check winning numbers on the Powerball official website and Ohio Lottery
Check to see if you won through the Ohio Lottery or Powerball website.
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Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
This content is sourced from www.beaconjournal.com and is shared for informational purposes only.
